Terminal for electrical devices



Aug. 4, 1936. c. c. MccAlN TRMINAL FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES Filed July l5, 1932 Patented Aug. 4, 1936 PATENT OFFICE TERMINAL FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES Cecil C. McCain, Glen. Ellyn, Ill., assignor to i Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 13, 1932, Serial No. 622,175

6 Claims.

trical devices which are oi simple and inexpensive construction and which may be readily and conveniently assembled with a minimum amount of skill and manual labor.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided an external terminal for electrical condensers which comprises a U-shaped metal strip g having the free ends thereof bentA outwardly at right angles. The internal terminal of the condenser, comprising a relatively thin metal strip, is inserted between the two inner sides of the external terminal and the latter is then inserted through a slot in an insulating cover or terminal mounting member with the right angle ends abutting one side thereof and it is secured to the mounting member by a lock washer abutting the opposite side of the mounting member. The lock washer is formed with a pair of inclined arms arranged to engage the outer sides of the U-shaped external terminal and to be staked thereagainst which also serves to insure a good contact between the internal and external terminals.

A clear understanding of the -invention may be had from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view -of an electrical condenser, embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;v

vFig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view, partly in section, showing one of the pair of inner and external terminal members, and `the mounting member and the lock washer before being secured together and completely assembled with the condenser, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the U- shaped external terminal and the lock washer, respectively, before being assembled with the mounting member and the inner terminal of the condenser.

Referring to the drawing, particularly to Fig.

1, wherein the improved4 external terminal andl its mounting have been applied to an electrical condenser, shown fragmentarily, the numeral Il) indicates a condenser positioned in a standard potting compound I2, terminals I3 and I4 of the condenser extending from the compound. The method of mounting and attaching the improved external terminals indicated at II tothe inner terminals I3 and I of the condenser I0 is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein only the inner terminal i3 and its associated external terminal I'l are shown, it being understood that the inner ter- 5 minal It is connected to an external terminal Il in an identical manner. After inserting the condenser I@ in a predetermined quantity of the molten compound I2 in the container II the level of the compound will be raised to substantially l the line I8. Before the compound I2 hardens the ends of the extending terminals I3 and I4 are twisted 180 from their position of exit from the condenser. i

The external terminal member II comprises a I U-shaped construction formed from a metal strip having a width substantially the same as the inner terminal I3 and formed with the longitudinal arms thereof slightly spaced apart and bent outwardly at their free ends to provide right angle extensions I9. The inner terminal I3 is inserted for a suitable distance into the space between the spaced arms of the external terminal I'I and then a cover or terminal mounting member 20 composed of insulating material and provided with a pair of slots 2l through which the external terminals Il are inserted and as viewed in Fig. 3 the lower surface of the member 20 rests upon the extensions I 9 of the terminal member Il.

At the time of positioning the mounting member 20 on the. terminal members I'l, a suitable slotted support or anvil indicated in dotted outline at 24 is positioned under and in abutting relation with the lower surfaces of the extensions I9 and adf jacent the inner terminals I3 and I 4 of the con-35 denser for rigidly supporting the extensions of the terminal members and the mounting member 20 during an operation of staking or clamping metal *lock-washers 25 which surround thel terminall members Il and abut the upper surface of the 40 mounting member. The lock washer 25 comprises a punched and slitt'ed'piece of metal of preferably rectangular contour and in the slitting thereof it is formed with a pair of inwardly extending opposite arms or tongues 26 of substantially the same width as the external terminals Il, the arms being struck outwardly from the body of the washer as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 for a sufiicient distance to provide a space therebetween for the insertion of the terminal Il, as shown in Fig. 3.

After the lock washers 25 have been positioned,

as described above, a pair of .slit punches (not with` the arms 2l" of the lock washers '25. mThis movement of the punches against the arms 2O ci the lock washer 2l attens them out to the plane of the upper surface of the body of the lock washer and stakes or clamps the free ends of the arms 28 against the outersides of the longitudinal arms of they external terminal member I1 and presses them thereinto for a slight distance to securely lock the terminal to the mounting member 20 and furthermore'insuring a good contact between, the inner and externalterminals. This completes the clamping of the external terminals I1 on its mounting member 20 and lilles wise .the clamping of the inner terminals I3 and Il ofthe condenser I0 between longitudinal arms of the external terminals. Thereafter the support or anvil 24 is withdrawn and the mountingl member 20 and attached parts are lowered int-o the container Il a suitable distance, as shown in- Fig. 1, the inner terminals I3 and Il shaping themselves into loops 21.

. quantity of the potting compound I2 is poured into the container II to fill the space between the upper level of the compound- I2, indicated by the line I8, previously poured into the container and the lower surface oi' the mounting member 20. The mounting member 20 at each corner is cut way as indicated at 30 so that the compound I2 maybe poured into the container Il, as justdescribed. A slight overiiow of the compound I2 at each corner indicated at 3| serves to1ock the mounting member 20 and attached terminals I'I from movement relative to the container II.

An electrical terminal and mounting therefor of the type above described is of simple and inexpensive construction and one in which it is possible to securely attach an external terminal to its mounting and of making a good contact between the inner terminal or lead out conductor of con-` densers or other electrical devices without a soldering operation. Furthermore. the construction is such that the locking' of the clamping member or'lock washer in place serves to simultaneously secure the external terminal to its mounting and completes the contact between the external and inner terminals for the electrical device.

Although the invention as herein illustrated and described, has been applied to an electrical condenser, it is to be understood that the -novel features of the invention are capable of various other applications, and furthermore is not to be limited to the specific embodiment above described, except insofar as is defined by the appended claims.

Whatfis claimed is:

1. In an electrical terminal, a terminal mount- .,ing having a slot, a. U-shaped terminalmember comprising arms adjacently spaced extending through the slot at one side of the mounting- -and having angularly formed portions atthe Thereafter another free ends of the arms abuttingvthe opposite side thereof, and means at the first mentioned side I polygonally apertured clamping element at ther Afirst mentioned side of the mounting, surrounding and tightly embracing the longitudinal portions of the terminal member for clamping the terminal member to the mounting and forcing the longitudinal portions against a conductor previously inserted therebetween.

3. In `an electrical terminal, a plurality of adjacent conducting elements, and means for clamping said elements together and simultaneously therewith clamping the elements against a conductor inserted therebetween comprising a washer having inwardly projecting opposite tongues pressed into engagement with said elements.

4. In an electrical terminal,`a terminal mounting having a slot, a terminal comprising a plurality of adjacent portions extending through the slot at one side of the mounting andhaving angularly formed portions at the opposite side of the mounting, and means comprising a washer at one side of the mounting having inwardly projecting opposite tongues pressed into engagement with said first portions for positioning the terminal with respect to the mounting and simultaneously therewith clamping the adjacent portions of the terminal together.

5, In an electrical. terminal, a plurality of adjacent conducting elements, and means for clamping said elements together and simultaneously therewith vclamping the elements against a conductor inserted therebetween comprising a washer having inwardly projecting oppositely spaced tongues arranged in the plane oi' the body of the Washer when in clamping relation with said elements with their ends pressed into engagement with said elements.

6. An electrical terminal comprising a. conducting strip reversely bent to form a pair of adjacent elongated portions; and a slotted member surrounding and 'slidable longitudinally of said terminal portions, said member having inwardly projecting vtongues pressed substantially into a common plane and into engagement with outer sides of said terminal portions for clamping a tczionductor inserted between said terminal por- CECIL C. McCAIN. 

